Photo courtesy of CSC website By Anna Olson
President Dave Wolk has been part of Castleton State College for twelve years. Through
personal struggles and dealing daily with college students, he would not change
it for the world. Though there are diverse groups of students throughout campus,
Wolk’s main goal is to have a personal connection with each and every student as well as being dedicated to the community surrounding the college.
The college has adopted the saying “the small college with a big heart,” but some
people are starting to disagree with it. What are your thoughts on
it?
We are a relationship based campus and we have had small
incremental growth over the decade and class sizes have not increased. We
maintain a unique and personal interaction among the students, coaches, and
faculty and staff members. People are worried with what might be and with what
is. We have an intimate connection here like an extended family. Much of the
future of our college will continue off campus. There will be hybrid classes.
Much of that growth won’t be here. The growth that we are planning within ten
years won’t affect the class sizes. We want to preserve what we can about
Castleton.
How did being a Vermont state senator prepare you for being the president of a
college?
I was Commissioner of Education for the state [of Vermont] for
two years before I came here. In the past, I was also a teacher, superintendent and principal. I think all of those experiences together helped prepare me for this role. I have been here for 12 years. If you’ve noticed, my hair is turning gray! I love Castleton, and I never thought I would stay so long, but I have done so due to my love for the students, the faculty and staff, and the college itself. Serving in the state senate was helpful, but everything else has prepared me. The center of it is the students. They are number one. My passion is to treat students like they are my own family. The goal I have is to improve education and improve the relationship with the students that I have interacted with.
There have been rumors floating through the town and through campus as to why $5000 was given to the police department. What was your reason behind it?
Over the last 12 years, we occasionally get requests for help. We want to be good
neighbors. The college doesn’t pay taxes. We have been helping the town in
little ways for decades. In the fall, late night and early morning nonsense was
occurring, so this was a way to help the town. We aren’t the only college that
does this. If you interview any college president, they will tell you what they
do for that town.
How do you feel about the relationship between the Castleton residents and the college students?
Well, I think it’s less than 1% who have been causing problems. I regret that this has
ever happened and I have tried to do anything that I can do to stop it. I am
disappointed in the small amount of students who have been causing trouble and
who have been disrespectful. More than 99% of our students are really good
citizens.
What do you think your biggest accomplishment is being the president of the
college?
The most heartwarming is, it has been 12 years, and there are a lot of students who
stay in touch. It is the relationship that I have been lucky to have with the
former students and current students. It is what keeps me
motivated.
Out of all the achievements at the college, what is one that you are most proud
of?
I’m not saying that I am responsible for this, but when I came here, the college was
like a jewelry drawer. It was scattered and had no organization. Now, our college is a beautiful, well organized jewelry chest. It is a drawer full of beautiful gems. It’s what we have. We have a connection with each other. We organized all these jewels into beautiful, organized gems into this college. Our
reputation matches our reality.
What do you hope to see in the future for the town of Castleton?
I hope to see a climate of mutual trust and respect between the college, its students, and community.
President Dave Wolk has been part of Castleton State College for twelve years. Through
personal struggles and dealing daily with college students, he would not change
it for the world. Though there are diverse groups of students throughout campus,
Wolk’s main goal is to have a personal connection with each and every student as well as being dedicated to the community surrounding the college.
The college has adopted the saying “the small college with a big heart,” but some
people are starting to disagree with it. What are your thoughts on
it?
We are a relationship based campus and we have had small
incremental growth over the decade and class sizes have not increased. We
maintain a unique and personal interaction among the students, coaches, and
faculty and staff members. People are worried with what might be and with what
is. We have an intimate connection here like an extended family. Much of the
future of our college will continue off campus. There will be hybrid classes.
Much of that growth won’t be here. The growth that we are planning within ten
years won’t affect the class sizes. We want to preserve what we can about
Castleton.
How did being a Vermont state senator prepare you for being the president of a
college?
I was Commissioner of Education for the state [of Vermont] for
two years before I came here. In the past, I was also a teacher, superintendent and principal. I think all of those experiences together helped prepare me for this role. I have been here for 12 years. If you’ve noticed, my hair is turning gray! I love Castleton, and I never thought I would stay so long, but I have done so due to my love for the students, the faculty and staff, and the college itself. Serving in the state senate was helpful, but everything else has prepared me. The center of it is the students. They are number one. My passion is to treat students like they are my own family. The goal I have is to improve education and improve the relationship with the students that I have interacted with.
There have been rumors floating through the town and through campus as to why $5000 was given to the police department. What was your reason behind it?
Over the last 12 years, we occasionally get requests for help. We want to be good
neighbors. The college doesn’t pay taxes. We have been helping the town in
little ways for decades. In the fall, late night and early morning nonsense was
occurring, so this was a way to help the town. We aren’t the only college that
does this. If you interview any college president, they will tell you what they
do for that town.
How do you feel about the relationship between the Castleton residents and the college students?
Well, I think it’s less than 1% who have been causing problems. I regret that this has
ever happened and I have tried to do anything that I can do to stop it. I am
disappointed in the small amount of students who have been causing trouble and
who have been disrespectful. More than 99% of our students are really good
citizens.
What do you think your biggest accomplishment is being the president of the
college?
The most heartwarming is, it has been 12 years, and there are a lot of students who
stay in touch. It is the relationship that I have been lucky to have with the
former students and current students. It is what keeps me
motivated.
Out of all the achievements at the college, what is one that you are most proud
of?
I’m not saying that I am responsible for this, but when I came here, the college was
like a jewelry drawer. It was scattered and had no organization. Now, our college is a beautiful, well organized jewelry chest. It is a drawer full of beautiful gems. It’s what we have. We have a connection with each other. We organized all these jewels into beautiful, organized gems into this college. Our
reputation matches our reality.
What do you hope to see in the future for the town of Castleton?
I hope to see a climate of mutual trust and respect between the college, its students, and community.
RSS Feed